The Portland daily press., 1887-10-03
The Women and Temperance.

The Maine branch of the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union, following the lead
OF the National Union, endorses the Third
Party, thus declaring in effect that in the
opinion of the majority of its members the
cause of temperance can best be promoted
through distinct political organization. In
view of the fact that there has never been
Third Party in this State of any considera-
BILE dimensions, yet nevertheless prohibition
has been the settled policy of the State for
thirty years, and is so firmly established to-
day that neither of the existing parties ever
attacks it In its platforms, such declaration
is, to say the least, surprising.
The Third Party in Maine has seldom been
strong enough to elect single representa-
tive to the legislature, yet Maine has the
most rigorous prohibitory law in the Union,
and the most vigorously enforced, and hard
ly session of legislature passes without ad-
ditions being made to it to give it more
strength. Comparing the situation as re-
CARDS temperance in Maine with the condi-
ton of things that prevails in other States
where there have been large Third Parties
for years, 1t is difficult TO see how the women
Of Maine arrived at the conclusion that the
best way to promote the interests of prohi-
bition is through a distinct political organi-
zation. Ohio has had a large and lively
Third Party for many years. But it has not
succeeded in putting prohibition into the
Constitution or on to the statute book. The
same Is true of New York and Massachu-
sets, and many other States. But in Maine,
without Third Party large enough to exer.
else any considerable influence, prohibition
has been placed on the statute book and In
the Constitution. How does it happen, then,
that In the opinion of the women of Maine a
Third Party is the best way to promote the
interests Of temperance?
But they say the prohibitory law is not en-
forced. That is true Of few of the larger
places, but it is not true of the great MAORI
ty OF the towns in the State. In the great
majority Of them 1t is as well enforced as
the other laws. But how will Third Party
contribute to its enforcement in those places
where 1t is now neglected? The trouble in
those places Is that a large number Of the
people are Indifferent to the law. Now the
mere collection of all the Prohibitionists in
TO distinct party, even if that were posi-
BILE, would not reduce the number of these
Indifferent people. There would be the
same obstacles to encounter then that exist
now. Any movement that will increase the
friends of the prohibitory law will strength
en- its enforcement. But a Third Party,
started with the ayowed intention of smash.
ing the other parties, will not do that. In
deed 1t will have rather the opposite effect.
The Woman's Christian Temperance I'm
ion Of Maine hitherto has undoubtedly beer
influential in strengthening prohibition. II
has kept the people alive to the dangers Of
intemperance and has been instrumental 10
educating both young and old in the way
that they should go. 1t now proposes
to embark upon the stormy sea of poll
tics. Such a course will inevitably rouse an
tagonism, that will be detrimental to its
work. The temperance men who are identi.
fed with the old parties, must needs be